Just bend the gate out a little so it’s tight when you put it back in.

I took the gate right out and threw it away after the piece of shit fell off at least 20 times. No time for that nonsense.

Same exact problem with Elvira had to throw away the gate. Does Stern even care at this point? Do they test these things after charging people $9200 bucks? Its a fair question.

I removed mine. Once or twice I’ve since seen a Denogorgon mode started by a ball going in the back way (which is what I presume this wire was designed to prevent) but it’s so rare that I wouldn’t worry about it.

You just stretch out the gate a little and put it back in, it will never fall out again.

Even with the gate in there I have had it sneak in with a ricochet shot from the right flipper. When my gate fell out I stretched it and then put it back. Fell out the first time around 50 games and so far, after stretching and over 500 games, it has not fallen out again. I would not put it back without stretching it out some and it doesn't take a much stretch to resolve it. Had they just made the wire just 1 mm longer this would not be an issue. From what we have seen the replacements are not any different so getting a new one from stern will not resolve it.

Nope. We're the testers. Why pay someone to do something in house when you have people willing to give you $5,000+ to do it for you.

Stern has to learn they have serious competition and honestly better machines are being created by other companies. No more free passes. Simpsons Pinball Party what happened to those days when the games are loaded to the gills? That game brand new was like $3900 bucks... now they do the least possible, and the games don't even work.

But you make an amazing point!!! I sadly agree with you!

This just happened in my new Stranger Things Pro. Anyone got tips on the easiest way to get access to the gate area? Do I have to take off the demogorgon or the plastic pieces? Ugh so annoying! Thanks!
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best fix.... take the damn gate out. I put the piece of crap back on at least 20 times after it fell off. I have bent/manuiplated the piece of crap all ways possible and it still falls off. Tried it all.... nothing worked. Honeslty I dont see a big difference in game play with it missing... very rarely I will start a demorgorgan that shouldnt start, but it is no more than 1/100 games this happens.

Take it out, and turn the ball lock on virtual lock. Save yourself the headache of having to repair the plastic tube too!

Bending my one way gate worked and I have not had it come out since. I believe I'm near 800-900 plays on mine. The plastic to the left of the demogorgon comes off with 2 screws and a spacer. That one plastic makes it much easier to get your fingers down there to adjust the gate or remove it.

On newer machines the ball lock on the left ramp has been fixed and if you have one of the machines that does have the issue contact them to get the updated part. My machine was delivered on Jan 15th and has not had an issue with that ball lock post. It's so important to the game I would rather fix it if there is a problem than make it virtual.

We had one in league and the operator ripped out the gate and threw it in the coin box. I was able to get it back in there once or twice, but it always came out again.

After bending the gate twice to fix it within the first 24 hours, I removed it entirely. It’s extremely rare to end up entering the Denogorgon from behind.

Thanks all. I must be not very mechanical bc I can’t get the damn gate out. Only one side is off and I can’t figure out how to rip the gate. Tips for the very inexperienced?

I'll say

Damn mine is playing up now.. balls are getting stuck up in there? The wire gate is still attached.. I can't see why it's getting stuck. I'll have to pull a few things off and check.

My telekinesis lock has started to be a pita to hit too, really have to smack it up there hard to get to stick. How do you know if you need the updated part?

Did you figure it out? I think I just followed the contours of the wire as I wiggled it out. Or take ramps and stuff off and then it's probably just a screw.

I'm assuming you're talking about the magnet lock on the backpanel of the Premium/LE. I helped someone fix this on their machine.

In his case, the issue was that balls were being diverted towards the magnet even when the lock wasn't on. It sounds like maybe yours is slightly different. Do you think an adjustment of the diverter arm would fix your issue? The way to adjust it is to pull the playfield forward and up onto the service rails. Then get a friend to lift the back of the playfield (there is a handle on the back of the backpanel).

There is a nut down at the activation point of the diverter arm (below the playfield, but now accessible without removing anything (through the side that is now exposed since the back of the pf is lifted up)). You can loosen that, then adjust the arm, and then tighten it again. Maybe it's not getting close enough to the magnet?

Then again, I'm just guessing, maybe it's an entirely different issue.

Maybe it's not getting close enough to the magnet? Then again, I'm just guessing, maybe it's an entirely different issue.

Thanks for the reply. Mine does stick to the magnet most of the time, but the ball has to have some real pace to make it happen. From a held ball with the right flipper, even if I hit the ramp clean it just goes up the ramp, hits the diverter ramp that pops out and then washes all its speed of and just rolls back down the ramp. If you manage to get a shot up there and its really moving, then fine and it'll hold three balls fine. I guess my complaint is that I can't consistently make a planned shot up there, maybe I just need to play better

EDIT: Sorry I just found the wire gate everyone is talkin about and mine is also flapping with only one side hooked in. What's the best process to get this thing out?

Stern. Sigh.

Try this for troubleshooting your magnet lock.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/stranger-things-club-join-our-party/page/35#post-5472488

Take a slow mo video with your phone of a clean shot up the ramp and then watch what happens. It might help and you can report back as to what is happening.

I wiggled the gate out. Not sure what else to say. If you can’t figure that out, then you need to remove stuff to get to it.

I'll do a slow mo, good call.

So I just had this happen the other night. When I made the Demogorgan shot, it got hung up. Glad this thread was here. I'm not too afraid to rip things apart, because I completely rebuilt my IJ, but I know what it's like to be afraid the first time with these machines. Here's what I had to take off:

1. Left ramp-4 screws. I didn't have to completely take it out, but enough to lay it on its side.
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2. Upper Black Upside Down plastic art-1 small black screw in the back, 1 "wing" nut in the front, and 1 screw down in the cut out area
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3. Lower Black Upside Down plastic art- 1 screw on the left and then you have to loosen the nut on the right side (5/16"). The nut is really tough to access and I had to go slow with it. After loosening it slightly, I was able to slide it out.
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The culprit:
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Put it back together in reverse and take pics if you need to to keep track.

Does the gate engage a switch letting it know the ball is there? Ball gets stuck on mystery shot and demogogon shot every time.. ball does go once ball search happens

Thanks for putting in the effort to make a very helpful post!